Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Source: https://azertag.az)Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on July 26 signed a Muslimautonomy law to allow minority Muslims in the south to start moving towardsself-rule by 2022, abid to tackle extremism and defuse a half-century of separatist conflict inMindanao.
The President’s spokesman Harry Roque told reporters that President Dutertehas just signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) into law, which was originallycalled the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
The BOL will pave the way for creating a government for the BangsamoroAutonomous Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM).
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, enjoying more power, can have its ownjudicial system and parliament. However, the autonomous government cannot haveits own military and police force, as these would still be under the centralgovernment.
The Philippine Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)signed a peace agreement in 2012 and ended the insurgency. In 2014 both sidesagreed to pass a law, which is BBL, to maintain the lasting peace in thesouthern Philippines at the legislative level.
MILF leadershave welcomed the Bangsamoro law, even if all their demands were not met. Theysaid they will continue to engage the government until amendments are made inthe law later to get what they really wanted.
Jesus Dureza, the Philippine Presidential Peace Adviser, said earlierthis week that the BOL will be a new beginning for all Bangsamoro and allcitizens to work for a better and peaceful Mindanao and country.
Official statistics show that some 120,000 people have been killed sinceearly 1970s in clashes between government troops and Muslim rebel groups. Thosekilled included not just combatants of both sides but also innocent civilians.-VNA
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